Wounded Warrior
by Javier Reyes, Boise Idaho Facility
Two weeks ago I was coming to work around 6:30 a.m. and was
entering the Interstate and there was a soldier in full uniform
with all his medals standing by the side of the road waiting by the
side of the road. It was a rainy day and no one had taken into
consideration and offered a hand to help by giving him a ride to
Boise. In an instant I had visions of myself in the 70's, coming
back from Vietnam from a not so popular war, hitchhiking on the
Pacific Highway (illegal in California) trying to get somewhere on
foot, but being chastised for fighting for my country.
I stopped and offered to give him a ride to his destination and
get him out of the rain. It turns out that he was going to a
Wounded Warrior presentation at a Plasma Center in Boise but that
his vehicle had a flat tire and he had to go on foot. He (Jim) told
me his dilemma about being a forty year veteran and how hard it is
to get a job after being in the military that long; that the money
just doesn't last as long and not having a job does not help
either. He told me a story about applying for a security job at a
computer company in Boise and that he was told that he did not have
enough experience in security to be considered for the
position.
I dropped him off at his destination, gave him my gratitude for
his service and some money.
Every day I count my blessings that I survived the negative
reception that we all received upon our return and became a better
person for it. I pray that our soldiers that are currently
serving and veterans in our hospitals are taken care of even in
these tough economic times. 
What I can say is that I did the right thing that day for Jim,
for the right reasons and not for the glory. If that is impacting
our community in a positive manner, then I do that every day by
serving as a leader in my community.
Thank you Bigelow Tea for having the company values that are
lacking in a lot of other organizations that I have worked for.
Sometime it is not about the money but about the core values that
we must stand for.
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